Farmers Telephone Co. is expanding its services by opening a new satellite office in downtown Cortez at 16 N. Market St., while keeping the Pleasant View office open.
We just thought it would make more sense to have a presence in Cortez so customers could easily find us since Pleasant Views out here a bit and we do already have Internet customers in Cortez. So it makes sense, said Connie Baber, a customer service representative for Farmers Telephone.
Another incentive for adding the satellite office in Cortez is the new fiber-optic network, Baber said. Farmers plans to be a provider on the fiber-optic network the city of Cortez is putting in. Baber said Farmers wanted to be in Cortez when it was all ready to go.
Pleasant View customers still use copper telephone wire, Baber said. The system in Cortez will be different.
It is a Qwest service area, but the fiber optics will allow us to offer phone service over that fiber-optic connection, she said. (Customers) will have choice once (the fiber optics) are in. The first phase will be available to businesses.
Farmers is looking at two main services for the broadband connection: telephone service and Internet, Baber said.
The company offers Internet service to its Pleasant View customers, Baber said. Fiber-optic installation there is in the works, but it will be a ways off.
Farmers will hold a grand opening for the Cortez satellite office from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 22. There will be door prizes and refreshments, and Farmers Pleasant View customer Lowell Volk will sign copies of his book The Taylors Civil War.